RIP J. Michael Hunter

June 25, 2016, 8:15 am

The Virginian Pilot

June 25, 2016

J. Michael Hunter, age 66, of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away peacefully after a long illness on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. He is the son of the late Vincent Martin and Helen Parker Hunter of Norfolk, VA.

The focus of his life after God was his children and Elizabeth Anderson (AKA Mrs. Hunter) his wife of 32 years, and best friend for 40 years, who survive him. He lives on in their children,

Margaret (Margie) E. Hunter and her fiancé Ian McNeilly, E. O'Neill Hunter and her husband Charles (Chuck) Reichert and their daughter Andersen E. Reichert, Mary-Gallagher Hunter, John (Jack) Michael Hunter, and dear family friend Corey T. Maxey.

J. Michael was a successful screen actor and vested member of the SAG/AFTRA Guilds for 36 years playing featured, co-starring, or supporting roles in more than 150 television movies and feature films (not to mention his commercial and voice over work). J. Michael was a character actor and consequently his roles have been as varied as a co-starring role in a movie to... "Don't get up for popcorn or you'll miss the scene". He has appeared in feature films as diverse as David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet', to Disney's '1st Kid', also, soap opera, episodic TV dramas, TV movies, small independent films and industrials. His stage background is just as extensive. To mention a few, he has starred in Neal Simon plays in dinner theater. He played 'Hamlet'. He directed, produced and starred in a play for the Edinburgh Arts Festival in Scotland. He directed, and produced several documentary films including Waking Up With Jack and WWJ Journey II concerning the days in the life of Down Syndrome.

His education spans from intensive training and apprentice ships in acting, to earning a terminal degree in 2008. He attended Holy Trinity parochial school, and he graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School in 1969. He attended the Actor's Equity Apprentice program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Performance Theatre Arts, University of Edinburgh Performance Theatre Arts, Edinburgh Scotland, and Lee Strasburg's Actor's Studio, Hollywood CA

He earned a bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA where he joined the Golden Key National Honors Society. He attended Regent University film school Producers Tract, Virginia Beach VA where he earned a Master of Fine Art in Film and Television Production. He was honored with the 2008 Outstanding Student Award. He was beginning the process toward his PhD while working as an adjunct professor in film and television production when he became ill.

J. Michael's experiences in the area of children with special needs and education took talents into the realm of teachers and their students. He presented his theory that teachers are actors too, by conducting interactive workshops designed to help teachers pull out their acting skills to reach learners at all levels. J. Michael's acting skills help teachers to creatively differentiate learning in their classrooms. He would actively engage conference participants in the importance of role- playing and its valuable influence on learners on all levels.

J. Michael Hunter was a devoted Roman Catholic, husband, father, and grandfather; prior to his illness he was a passionate actor, church Lector, leader, mentor, youth ministry leader, and Life Teen leader. He taught confirmation classes, and he was an educator and a student. Everyone looked up to him and liked him very much. He took recent joy in reminiscing about these roles with his family.

He has shared his worldview in 2009 with us as follows:

"My worldview is the shared worldview I have with the mother of my children, my partner in life, my partner in all that I do, Elizabeth. The "I me", has turned to the "we our", because that is how we live our lives. Our world is messy, and imperfect, there are a lot of loose ends, things are not perfect, we get hurt, we laugh, and we get mad at each other and at our children. But, we always make up; we apologize and get along with what we have to do. Our lives are full and rich with the stuff of life. We offer up our day every morning with a prayer as we cross over a bridge on our way to Christ the King Parish." The prayer goes like this:

Dear God, I offer you my day, everything I say, everything I think, and everything that I do, because You're in me, and I'm in You, Amen". "Lord guide my stumbling feet, keep them on the path of honesty and truth, fill my heart with love and help me to give it as freely as You do, let my eyes see beyond the surface to look for the good in everyone, and please Lord if at times I don't live up to your expectations continue to Bless me with Your love, Amen".

J. Michael's wishes are that there will be no memorial wake or funeral. The family is planning a funeral mass in the future for his burial. In the meantime, if you would like memorialize him, he asked that donations be made in his name to:

St. Stephen Martyr Roman Catholic Church-attention Father Brian Rafferty www.ssmrcc.org

The American Heart Association www.heart.org

Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org

Down Syndrome Association of Hampton Roads www.dsahr.org

Autism Society of Tidewater www.tidewaterasa.org

H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Norfolk Chapel is handling arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com. –

HUNTER, J. Michael

Born: 1950, U.S.A.

Died: 6/21/2016, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A.

J. Michael Hunter’s westerns – actor:

Ironclads (TV) – 1991 – Lieutenant Simms

O Pioneers (TV) – 1992 – Barney Flynn

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RIP Gary Plaxton

June 25, 2016, 10:26 am

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Montreal Gazette

June 25, 2016

John Gary Plaxton, at age 80, passed away in Montreal, on May 25, 2016. Born in Toronto on November 30, 1935 to Jean Murchie and John Plaxton. Survived by his loving wife and best friend Louise Charlebois, son Michel (Joanne Gamble), daughter Elizabeth (Frédéric Szulga) and granddaughter Cathryn. He was the oldest of 4 children: Jim (Stephanie Tjelios), Jill (Michael Johnston) and of the late Robert (Margaret Knowles). He also leaves brothers and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, colleagues and students.

He had a long successful career in television, film and theatre. Actor, director, producer and teacher, Gary began his career in his hometown of Winnipeg. Then on to Ottawa, Toronto and finally in Montreal. He worked at CBC and Radio-Canada and also became one of Canada's first independent TV producers. He then happily and dynamically passed on his knowledge to a new generation, teaching drama in the Professional Theatre Department at Dawson College in Montreal.

The family will receive condolences on July 2, 2016 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a remembrance ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. at Alfred Dallaire MEMORIA, 4231 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1Z4.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gary Plaxton Memorial Award by calling the funeral home at 514 277-7778 or following this link www.memoria.ca

PLAXTON, Gary (John Gary Plaxton)

Born: 11/30/1935, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Died: 5/25/2016, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Gary Plaxton’s western – actor:

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV) – 2001 (President U.S. Grant)

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RIP Gary Plaxton

June 25, 2016, 10:26 am

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Montreal Gazette

June 25, 2016

The family will receive condolences on July 2, 2016 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a remembrance ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. at Alfred Dallaire MEMORIA, 4231 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1Z4.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gary Plaxton Memorial Award by calling the funeral home at 514 277-7778 or following this link www.memoria.ca

PLAXTON, Gary (John Gary Plaxton)

Born: 11/30/1935, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Died: 5/25/2016, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Gary Plaxton’s western – actor:

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV) – 2001 (President U.S. Grant)

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RIP Götz George

June 26, 2016, 2:38 pm

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Götz George dead at the age of 77 years

Die Welt

June 26, 2016

The actor Götz George is dead. His agent announced in Berlin late on Sunday, George died on June 19 after a short illness at the age of 77 years.

"Götz George has wanted an adoption in the inner circle," it said in the statement. From further inquiries should be waived out of consideration for the privacy of the family.

George had an audience of millions in addition to numerous other roles especially as "Tatort" commissioner Horst Schimanski in memory. The brash policeman from the Ruhr he embodied within 32 years a total of 48 times.

With the German Television Award honored for life's work

One of his most famous film roles was born in Berlin as a gay serial killer Fritz Haarmann in "The Deathmaker" of 1995. In satires as "schtonk!" or "Rossini" George showed his comedic talent.

In 2007 he was honored for his life's work with the German Television Award. Six years later he played in the TV drama "George" his own father Heinrich, who has been controversial because of his acting career in the Nazi era.

"You've just always overtaken me. You were just always better obsessed" Götz George said in an ARD documentation in 2013 to the address of his dead father. From the favorite role of the father, Goethe's "Götz von Berlichingen", he had incidentally also his first name.

He played the concentration camp doctor Josef Mengele ( "Nothing but the Truth") and one suffering from Alzheimer's driver ( "My Father"), a pickpocket ( "The Trio") and a blind piano teacher ( "The November Man"), an eco-activists ( "Lie on, darling") and a moribund prosecutor ( "night without morning").

Sometimes gruff, often uncomfortable

George liked to be himself. Sometimes gruff and often uncomfortable, he met his counterpart. Whether it be in film and television journalists, fans and colleagues. Shortly before his 75th birthday - nearly three years ago - there were so one of these special-George moments of casualness.

When seeing the movie "George" presented in Berlin, he was indeed ask podium, blared from the bent-nighters but every question mercilessly. She was placed incorrectly, this he could not say anything at all and it was not the right person. Point and thud.

Götz George was allowed that it had at times even. Perhaps it was his destiny. The multitalented actor used always his image as a roughneck - and the audience loved him for it. Of course, who was for 32 years with abgewetztem Parka as Ruhrpott commissioner Horst Schimanski front of the camera, just had to be a guy who also offend. So one can forgive that.

With the broken daredevils from Duisburg George wrote television history. Unlike the distinguished, serene men, identified in German Cops before and beside him, he played first time in 1981 a brash cop who goes with casual comments, hard fights and plenty of beer on a manhunt. "What do you quatschst me so daft, you philistines, just because I 'ne flag?", His opponent snapped the attractive Commissioner at once.

Ambition, playfulness, incredible vitality

29 "Schimmi" episodes ran 1981-1991 under the ARD crime series "Tatort". Twice he had seen in the movies and 1997 dedicated the first of his successful hero own series with the cult Logo "Schimanski". He was indeed now retired and had a gear connected, but still a street sweeper. Only the first episode "The squadron" saw almost 13 million people. In 2013 deadline was then so, after 48 episodes.

Nevertheless, George has never liked Never push in the drawer Crime. With ambition, enthusiasm and incredible vitality he made his mark in his long career as one of the most versatile German actor.

The Media George had a tense relationship despite his success; television, he accused time to look "only on coal and rate". Legendary "Wetten, dass ..?" His Zoff with Thomas Gottschalk's TV broadcast 1998. The 1a-Mime accused the 1a-Moderator ignorance and called him a "schoolmaster", the audience booed. Genuine emotions or staging? Almost no matter in any case it was pure George. Although five years later a highly effective reconciliation was, Georges criticism was quite serious.

2014 awarded the Federal Cross of Merit

He was only charged in Germany for work and taxes, as he once said. Otherwise, he retired with his more than 20 years his junior partner Marika Ullrich in his refuge in Sardinia back. Headlines made a terrible swimming accident in 1996 and heart surgery of 2007.

2014 Götz George was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit. In July George would have been 78 years old.

Two years ago, he had declared that he wished to withdraw largely after 65 years of work from the play store. "I would like to 65 busy years Feierabend make," said the then 76-year-old the "Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung". It was just too much stress. So he went to the public rarely, turned only slightly, filling yourself a wish: "On the stage, as it always is with actors, I will not surely die."

2015 he was then for the last time before the camera: In the ARD crime drama "Bad Weather" He played a mining baron - not in the Ruhr area, but in the resin. A broadcast date for the film is not yet known.

GEORGE, Götz (Götz Schulz)

Born: 7/23/1938, Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Died: 6/19/2016, Germany

Götz George’s westerns – actor:

The Treasure of Silver Lake – 1962 (Fred Engel)

Frontier Hellcat - 1964 (Martin Baumann Jr.)

The Man Called Gringo – 1965 (Sheriff Mace Carson)

The Half-Breed - 1966 (Jeff Brown)

Auf den Spuren Winnetous – 2004 [himself]

Winnetou Trilogy (TV) – 2016

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RIP Bud Spencer

June 27, 2016, 2:43 pm

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Spettacoli

June 27, 2016

Bud Spencer has died

The actor, Carlo Pedersoli has died. He was 86 years-old. The announcement was made by his son: "Dad flew away peacefully. He did not suffer, his last words were "thank you".

He died Monday afternoon the actor Bud Spencer aka Carlo Pedersoli. This was announced by son Giuseppe Pedersoli "Dad flew away peacefully at 18.15. He did not suffer, and had us all beside him, his last words were “thank you”. He was born in Naples on 31 October 1929.

Not only comic

Bud Spencer for many generations, who knew him at the movies and then in the endless television reruns, was the giant with a heart of gold that led him on adventures paired with his friend Terence Hill. Unforgettable was this figure of a bearded big man in the spaghetti westerns of the '70s, from "They Call Me Trinity" through the various sequels.

Carlo Pedersoli, however, was involved in a long and multifaceted career in which, next to the most popular films, there was space for the thriller (directed by Dario Argento in Four Flies on Grey Velvet), art films with Ermanno elms and even to the civil complaint drama with black Torino Carlo Lizzani.

The bitterness of the past years

After many successes he also had a bit 'of bitterness in recent years, to be lightly regarded by the world of cinema. "In Italy I and Terence Hill simply do not exist - he complained - despite the great popularity that we have today among children and young people. They were never given a prize, not even invited us to festivals. "The last appearance on TV was in 2010 with The Cook crimes of fiction Channel 5. In 2015 he was celebrated in Naples with a medal and a plaque for his long career that he was given by the mayor De Magistris.

Record holder in swimming

Carlo Pedersoli was born in Naples (Saint Lucia district) on October 31, 1929. His father was a businessman from Brescia and the work took him away from the Gulf when Carlo was just 11 years old and the whole family moved to Rome (Parioli district) in 1940. Leaving friends from school (including Luciano de Crescenzo), the boy enrolled in high school and a swimming course, being brilliant in both cases, so that he went to college (chemistry course) at just 17 years of age. After the war, however, the family changed cities again, Pedersoli ended up in Rio de Janeiro, and Carlo had to leave school. Will the worker, the librarian, the embassy secretary as in the legends of American stars. Back in Rome, he resumed his studies but above all the activity in the pool where it is reported he was soon a real ace: in the 100 meters free style he made history by becoming the first Italian to break the minute barrier net (59 "5 in 1950 and in the 25 meters in Vienna). The Italian won 11 titles and attended the Olympics in Helsinki in 1952 and it will also be noted how he was the center of attention with the Italian triumphs in the 1955 Mediterranean Games in Barcelona.

The landing at the movies

He also continued to study (this time-law, he graduated and that lead to a successful conclusion despite the sporting exploits) and is noticed by the film in the middle of Hollywood on the Tiber season. Thanks to the physical sculptural, was hired as an extra in 'Quo Vadis?' And then ended up on the set of "Hannibal" where he met the young actor Mario Girotti - Terence Hill - who will become his excellent partner a few years later. It's up to Mario Monicelli who entrusted with him his first real role, that of the abusive Nando in "A Hero of Our Times" (1955). Closed with swimming after the Rome Games in 1960 he returned to South America for a long period away from his interests. He returned to Italy opened and his own company, he married Maria Amato (the daughter of the producer Peppino Amato), she gives birth to his first two children, writes songs and gets some success. With cinema he must work through the ranks it is long and Bud Spencer won the lead role in the western "God Forgives I Don’t" in 1967 thanks to Giuseppe Colizzi. First he refused because of economic demands but then enlisted because he is the only suitable actor for the gigantic and menacing partner of the protagonist, Pedersoli meets again Mario Girotti. The two will decide at the end of the film, to change their names on the posters to attract the public and Pedersoli choose his favorite beer Bud and his adored actor Spencer Tracy.

The triumphs

The success of the film is more than flattering, but it will be the next episode, "They Call Me Trinity" (Enzo Barboni, 1970) to consecrate the personal success of the duo. A real love at first sight with the public that will be repeated, infallible, for another 16 times in all. The cliché of the character is always the same and Spencer also redeveloped by itself: a giant with the heart of gold, that leads the way, always smiles like a child, restores the wrongs and enjoys life. Cowboy or investigator (the Steno series "Big Foot Cop"), adventurer or a good father, Bud Spencer even perfected a type of hammer blow that will make him unmistakable.

Mourning

Bud Spencer "disappears a great interpreter of Italian cinema that during his long career he has been able to entertain generations and conquer the audience with his great professionalism," says the Minister of goods and cultural activities and tourism, Dario Franceschini who clings to the actor's family died this evening in Rome. "He had been loved by so many," it is instead the tweet of condolence of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

SPENCER, Bud (Carlo Pedersoli)

Born: 10/31/1929, Santa Lucia, Naples, Campania, Italy

Died: 6/27/2016, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Bud Spencer’s westerns – actor:

God Forgives... I Don’t! – 1966 (Earp Hargitay/Hutch Bessy/Dan)

Ace High – 1967 (Hutch Bessy)

Beyond the Law – 1967 (James Cooper)

Today We Kill… Tomorrow We Die! 1968 (‘Walrus’ O’Bannion)

Boot Hill – 1969 (Hutch Bessy/Arch Hutch)

The 5-Man Army – 1969 (Mesito/Panchito)

They Call Me Trinity – 1970 (Bambino)

Trinity is STILL My Name – 1971 (Bambino)

It Can be Done... Amigo! – 1972 (Hiram Coburn)

Massacre at Fort Holman – 1972 (Eli Sampson)

Buddy Goes West – 1981 (Buddy/Doctor Malabar)

Troublemakers – 1994 (Moses)

Denn sie kennen kein erbarmen - Der Italowestern – 2005 [himself]

Giuliano Gemma: An Italian Story – 2012 [himself]

Stracult: La nascita di: Django, Ringo, Sartana, Trinita, Navajo, Camposanto… (TV) – 2012

[himself]

Django, Trinity and the Others... 2013 [himself]

Stracult: Western Italiani, i Mitici Film Anni 60 & 70 – 2013 [himself]

The Angel, the Brute and the Wise – 2014 (poker player) [film was never made]

Django, Sartana, Trinity and the Others... 2014 [himself]

Keoma Unchained – 2014 (Bud)

Sin piedad ? [himself]

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RIP Aharon Ipalé

June 28, 2016, 8:38 pm

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Israeli Actor Aharon Ipalé Dies of Cancer at 74

Ipalé performed alongside many of Hollywood's greatest stars and returned to Israel a few years ago, but never recreated success here.

read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/.premium-1.727694

Haaretz

By Nirit Anderman

June 28, 2016

Israeli actor Aharon Ipalé, who took part in a long list of British and American productions and played alongside some of Hollywood’s greatest stars, passed away on Monday at age 74. Ipalé died in Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer after battling cancer for his last few months. He left behind a daughter. He was buried Monday night in Holon.

Ipalé was born in Morocco on December 27, 1941 and came to Israel age two with his family. After finishing his army service, he studied theater in London. After his studies, he began appearing in television series and theater in England, playing Jesus in the TV mini-series “Christ Recrucified.” He appeared alongside John Gielgud in “The Shooting Party” in 1985, and with Burt Lancaster in the TV mini-series “Moses the Lawgiver,” in which he played Joshua, the role that put him on his way to Hollywood.

He had parts in a long list of famous American television series, including “Dynasty,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “Kojak,” “The Love Boat,” “MacGyver,” “Miami Vice,” and “Charlie’s Angels.” On the big screen, he acted alongside Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks in “Charlie Wilson’s War,” directed by Mike Nichols; and with Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman in “Ishtar.” He also had parts in “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Xanadu,” “Airport ‘79,” “The Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns.”

But his career never took off in Israel. He starred in Nissim Dayan’s “Gesher Tzar Me’od” in 1985, but when he returned to Israel four years ago after working for decades overseas, especially in London and Hollywood, he never succeeded in regaining his place in the local scene.

“There are some people in the industry in Israel that no matter what I did outside [of Israel], as far as they are concerned, I don’t exist,” Ipalé said in an interview last year with Maariv. “If I was a director or producer here, and knew that an actor who’d been good enough for Hollywood and London was here in Israel, I would snatch him up. But no one looks outside. They think they invented the wheel here.”

IPALE, Aharon

Born: 12/27/1941, Meknes, Morocco

Died: 6/26/2016, Tel HaShomer, Ramat Gan, Israel

Aharon Ipalé’s western – actor:

Madron – 1970 (Singer)

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RIP Charles Briles

June 30, 2016, 8:02 am

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RIP Charles Briles

San Luis Obispo Tribune

June 30, 2016

Charles Briles Former TV and movie actor and stage director Charles "Chuck" Briles, formerly of Cambria, passed away at age 70 on June 12, 2016. Born in Gardena, Calif., Chuck was bitten by the acting bug at a young age. He performed as a teenager with the Kentwood Players of the Westchester Playhouse for several years; launching him on a professional acting career. Chuck performed in over 45 TV shows and movies. He was an original cast member of the popular television series "The Big Valley," playing Eugene Barkley, the youngest son of family matriarch Barbara Stanwyck. He also played a supporting role in the MGM Elvis Presley movie "The Trouble with Girls" in 1969. As an adult he turned his talent toward directing, winning many stage directing awards in Southern California. Chuck was also a highly successful writer, producer, and director of Industrial films for some 24 years with the Northrop Corporation of California. He was a talented, creative, and proud lifelong member of The Screen Actors Guild (SAG/AFTRA). He will be greatly missed by his family, colleagues, and friends. He is survived by his wife Kathy, of Orcutt, Calif.; his sister Carolyn Renno; sons Jason and Mike, and six grandchildren. A Celebration of his Life will take place this October in his beloved Cambria.

BRILES, Charles

Born: 12/17/1945, Gardena, California, U.S.A.

Died: 6/12/2016, San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.A.

Charles Briles westerns – actor:

The Big Valley (TV) – 1965-1966 (Eugene Barkley)

Gunfight in Abilene – 1967 (Dave Evers)

Bonanza (TV) – 1969, 1971 (Del Nagel, Billy)

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RIP Stuart Nisbet

June 30, 2016, 8:03 am

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RIP Stuart Nisbet

Los Angeles Times

June 30, 2016

It is with a very heavy heart that today we announce the passing of a local legend, actor, proud Scotsman, and wonderful family man, Stuart Nisbet. "Stu" Nisbet, age 82, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on June 23, 2016, at Verdugo Hills Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

Stuart was born on January 17, 1934 in Los Angeles, California to Emmet and Hazel Nisbet. He spent his early childhood in Bakersfield, CA and then moved to Glendale, where he spent the rest of his years. Stu studied Theatrical Arts at Los Angeles City College and at California State University, Los Angeles. After landing his first acting job in 1960, he then pursued a career in live theatre and television.

This successful career spanned nearly six decades. To his acting credits, Stuart will be remembered for his many movie roles in films, such as "The Graduate", "Earthquake", "Oh God", "The Fabulous Baker Boys", "Lucky Lady", and "Casino". He will also be remembered for his many recurring television roles in beloved classics such as "Dragnet", "The Virginian", "Bonanza", "Dennis the Menace", "Little House on the Prairie", "L.A. Law", "The Dukes of Hazzard", and "The Golden Girls". He also was the co-founder and owner of Baker-Nisbet, Inc. in Hollywood, California, a very successful casting agency for 24 years.

Stuart was extremely proud of his Scottish heritage and served as the President of the Nesbitt/Nisbet Society of North America for many years. His true passions included family, acting, and travel, having experienced much of the globe with his loving wife of nearly 55 years, Nancy Nisbet. Together, they traveled the four corners of the earth and the seven seas. To Stu, laughter was key, and as such, he was a dedicated member of several local improvisational Hollywood comedy groups.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Bill, Linda, and Scott; his grandchildren, Shane, Shilo, Brandy, and Hope; and his children-in-law, Denny and Delia. He loved to laugh, And lived to love¿ Oh, how he made us laugh! This special man is sorely missed by the many people who cared deeply for him. Rest now sweet Angel, we shall meet again! A private family celebration of Stuart's life will be held at 1443 Dorothy Drive, Glendale, CA 91202 on July 9th.

NISBET, Stuart

Born: 1/17/1934, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Died: 6/23/2016, Verdugo Hills, California, U.S.A.

Stuart Nisbet’s westerns – actor:

Two Faces West (TV) – 1961 (bartender)

The Virginian (TV) – 1962, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970 (Bart, Tolliver, bartender)

Empire (TV) – 1963 (Fred)

Gunsmoke (TV) – 1964 (boarding house guest)

A Man Called Shenandoah (TV) – 1965 (doctor)

Death Valley Days (TV) – 1965, 1969 (George Mason)

Laredo (TV) – 1966 (Doc Severenson)

The Road West (TV) – 1966 (Deputy Gibson)

Dundee and the Culhane (TV) – 1967 (Clay)

Iron Horse (TV) – 1967 (Wayne)

Ride to Hangman’s Tree – 1967 (Russell)

The Shakiest Gun in the West – 1968 (man going upstairs)

The Outcasts (TV) – 1968 (posseman)

The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1968 (farmer)

The Silent Gun (TV) – 1969 (Simpson)

The High Chaparral (TV) – 1970 (Conlin)

The Intruders (TV) – 1970 (bartender)

Bonanza (TV) – 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 (Sergeant Hines, Paul Fletcher, Charlie, Wiley, storekeeper, Evans, Fred Tyson, Colter)

Hec Ramsey (TV) – 1973 (Willy)

Hearts of the West (TV) – 1975 (Lucky)

The Night Rider (TV) – 1979 (Doc Ellis)

Little House on the Prairie (TV) – 1980 (Jenkins)

Father Murphy (TV) – 1982 (Spencer Nelson)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV) – 1997 (Harry B. Smith)

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RIP James L. Kelly

June 30, 2016, 4:34 pm

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RIP James L, Kelly

Las Cruces Sun-News

June 30, 2016

James Leroy Kelly 74 of Silver City, New Mexico, died on June 28, 2016, following a brief illness. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Bright Funeral Home. Jim was born in 1942 in Washington, D.C. His father was killed during combat about three years later, following the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Soon after, the family, which included a sister, moved to California, where Jim was introduced to theater and acting. He received his first membership card in the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and got a role in the movie, "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Kelly recalled recently that it involved little more than yelling an alarm. "I wasn't even clearly seen on the screen."

Following college at Cal State Hayward, where he received a degree in English and journalism, Kelly began a full time career as a reporter and columnist for several Bay Area newspapers, while also acting in summer stock and other theatrical performances.

In the 1970's Jim worked as a character actor on the famed TV series, "Little House on the Prairie." He also appeared in "Father Murphy." Later, he worked as a researcher for the famed "Follies" in Palm Springs, California.

Kelly and his wife, Linda, moved to Silver City in 2006, where Jim performed volunteer work for several organizations, including serving as a board member for the Silver City Museum. He created the Silver City poet laureate program and was a co-founder of the Southwest Festival of the Written Word. He also helped produce a Christmas play that was performed at WNMU in 2014. Most recently, he volunteered at Single Socks.

A Navy veteran, Jim was always blessed with a sharp wit and sense of humor. He enjoyed the companionship of like-minded friends, especially a group he shared a beer with once a week.

Jim Kelly is survived by his wife, Linda; a sister, Pat Springer, of Lothian, Maryland; and a brother, Roy Jamerson, of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for your family and friends", 210 W. College Ave., Silver City, New Mexico, 575-388-1911. To send condolences login to www.brightfuneral.net

KELLY, James L. (James Leroy Kelly)

Born: 1942, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

Died: 6/25/2016, Silver City, New Mexico, U.S.A.

James L. Kelly’s westerns – actor:

Little House on the Prairie (TV) – 1982 (foreman)

Father murhoy (TV) - 1983

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RIP Adam Hill Gilbert

July 2, 2016, 12:26 pm

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Virginia Gazette

July 2, 2016

Adam Hill Gilbert, born William Dudley Gilbert, passed away peacefully at home on June 29, 2016, after a long battle with lung cancer. Born in Culpeper, Virginia, on August 28, 1935, he was the son of Henry Dudley Gilbert and Dorothy Fant Gilbert, both deceased. He is survived by his loving sister, Dorothy Gilbert Jordan, brother-in-law Thomas Ferrell Jordan, nephew David Adam Jordan, aunt Doris Lee Fant and several cousins in Culpeper, Roanoke, and North Carolina. He was a member of Williamsburg Baptist Church. After graduating from Culpeper High School in 1953, William attended Duke University with a major in English.

At the end of his sophomore year, he left Duke to enroll with The Pasadena Playhouse in California to study playwriting and theatre. He had written two original plays for high school production and hosted his own local radio show prior to attending Duke, where he originated the university radio show, "Campusology". It was there at WDBS where he worked with his friend and college fraternity big brother, David Hartman, who went on to host "Good Morning America".

At the Playhouse and with the professional name of Adam Hill he tried a bit of acting¿on "NBC Matinee Theatre", The Lawrence Welk Show ", and "The Virginian" before interning at ZIV studios where he began his writing career on the adventure series, "Ripcord", penning 7 series for producer Jon Epstein. Following his service in the U.S. Navy at Bainbridge Naval Base in Maryland, William returned to Virginia and hosted a teen talk show and "Up'n Adam" at WROV in Roanoke for several years before moving to Charlotte, NC to host their early morning show.

Bouncing back to Hollywood, he joined Hollywood Video Center as Production Supervisor for "The Della Reese Show", "The Pat Boone Show", "Pet Set with Betty White", Governor Reagan's "State of the State" speeches and "The Virginia Graham Show". After a stint directing location shoots for "Candid Camera" and publishing his book, "I'm the Guy Who Gets", William joined Hatos-Hall Productions where he became head writer and on-air judge for the popular game show, "Split-Second".

In 1979 he joined the Bob Stivers Production Company and for four years was associate producer of "Circus of the Stars", "All Star Mothers' Day", and "Celebrity Daredevils". He was also associate producer and writer for George Vosburgh's "It All Adds Up", "Showdown of the Dream Teams" and "Fifty Grand Slam". This led to a stint with Merv Griffin Enterprises for the NBC pilot, "Buzzword". In 1986 William left Hollywood in part time retirement to become Creative Director for Coachella Valley Television and initiated the popular desert TV show, "Kitchens of the Desert". He also worked briefly for KDES radio before assuming the position of Director of Marketing for The McCallum Theatre at the Bob Hope Cultural Center in Palm Desert.

In 1994, William semi-retired the second time, and moved home to Virginia and settled in Williamsburg to be near his family. For the next few years he was a writer for two local stations, WXEZ radio (EZ 94) in York County and later for WXGM in Gloucester. A memorial service to celebrate William's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Williamsburg Baptist Church, 227 Richmond Rd., Williamsburg VA 23185.

GILBERT, Adam Hill (William Dudley Gilbert)

Born: 8/28/1935, Culpeper, Virginia, U.S.A.

Died: 6/29/2016, Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.A.

Adam Hill Gilbert’s western – actor:

The Virginian (TV) – 1963 (Luke)

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RIP Michael Cimino

July 2, 2016, 2:40 pm

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Report: Michael Cimino, ‘Deer Hunter’ and ‘Heaven’s Gate’ Director, Dies at 77

Variety

By Tim Gray

July 2, 2016

Michael Cimino, who won Oscars as director and a producer of “The Deer Hunter” before “Heaven’s Gate” destroyed his career and sped up the demise of 60-year-old United Artists, has died. He was believed to be 77.

Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux tweeted the news Saturday, writing that he died in peace surrounded by those close to him and the two women who loved him. “We loved him too,” wrote Fremaux.

His birthday is usually cited as Feb. 3, 1939, though many facts about Cimino’s life, including his birthdate, were shrouded in conflicting information.

Cimino directed eight films in his career. His first film was 1974’s “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot”; his second was the 1978 Vietnam War masterpiece “The Deer Hunter,” which won five Academy Awards, including best picture and director; his third was 1980’s “Heaven’s Gate,” the film that became synonymous with showbiz disaster; and the rest were mostly footnotes.

The rise and fall of Cimino is so extreme that it would undoubtedly make for a great book, miniseries or opera. But it may not make a good film: It would require too big a budget, and the plot would be too complex. His career is a cautionary tale for Hollywood, about the eternal conflict between artistry and finance, with side battles between creative people and the media.

When Cimino pacted with Universal and EMI for the 1978 “The Deer Hunter,” he had only two screenplay credits, then wrote and directed only one other film. “Hunter” ran behind schedule and over budget, but proved a big profit-maker, earning $48 million on a $15 million budget. It was nominated for nine Oscars and won five — including best director for Cimino and best picture (another statuette for Cimino as one of the four winning producers).

Based on its success, United Artists signed him for “Heaven’s Gate,” a Western based on the Johnson County Wars. Since its founding in 1919, UA had a long tradition of giving creative freedom to filmmakers, from Charlie Chaplin to Billy Wilder to Woody Allen. In 1978, a new United Artists team was in place, after top execs like Arthur Krim battled with parent company Transamerica and defected to form Orion Pictures. The new team at UA were eager for a big hit and Cimino seemed just the ticket. So they contractually gave him control over the production. The French New Wave in the early 1960s had anointed directors as auteurs, and the 1970s, after “Easy Rider,” saw many successful films from maverick filmmakers. So, the UA execs figured, what could possibly go wrong?

“Heaven’s Gate” started filming in April 1979 and wrapped 11 months later, in March 1980. In his book “Final Cut,” Steven Bach, who was a UA exec at the time, said the film was greenlit for $7.5 million but eventually budgeted at $11.5 million. It ended up costing $35.1 million, with another $9 million for marketing, leading to a $44 million writedown for UA. After the film, Cimino directed only four more features, ending with the 1996 “Sunchaser.” He always avoided questions about “Heaven’s Gate,” except to label Bach’s book “a work of fiction.”

Cimino was born in New York City and raised in Long Island; his father was a music publisher, his mother a costume designer. He went to Michigan State, graduated from Yale in 1961 and got an MFA there in 1963, both in painting. He directed TV commercials for United Airlines, Kool cigarettes and Pepsi, among others.

He moved to L.A. in 1971 and was repped by Stan Kamen at William Morris. He got gigs as a co-writer of the ecological science fiction film “Silent Running,” starring Bruce Dern, and the 1973 “Magnum Force,” the second “Dirty Harry” film. Eastwood was impressed, and gave Cimino his big break by agreeing to star in Cimino’s directing debut, the 1974 “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.” The film was a box office hit and gained an Oscar nomination for Jeff Bridges.

His second work, 1978’s “The Deer Hunter,” was the right movie at the right time. Though the Vietnam War was a daily presence on American TV, the studios generally avoided the topic on the bigscreen until long after the last troops had withdrawn in 1973. Cimino’s film was a three-hour-plus look at events on the battlefield and the home front, a gritty, grim study with excellent, Oscar-nominated performances by Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep (her first) and supporting actor Christopher Walken, who won. The film also won for editing and sound.

When “Deer Hunter” was released, Cimino implied in various interviews that the story (credited to him and three other scribes) was autobiographical, or else based on tales he heard when he was part of a 1968 Green Beret medical unit in Vietnam. Others refuted both versions, saying Cimino was never in Vietnam and his military experience was limited to six months in the reserves. Other details of Cimino’s life were subject to scrutiny, criticism and re-evaluation, including his age and even his gender identity. He variously listed the year of his birth as 1939, 1943 and 1952, sometimes shifting the month.

Almost from the beginning, “Heaven’s Gate” was the subject of criticism and speculation. Cimino was such a perfectionist that Hollywood told tales of him halting filming so an outdoor set could be rebuilt to have a wider sidewalk, and waiting endlessly for the clouds to create the right formation before filming. The story, possibly apocryphal, was that on the sixth day of shooting, it was already five days behind schedule. Aside from complaints of self-indulgence, there were claims of animal cruelty.

At various times, United Artists execs considered firing him (but relented, fearing a backlash and citing the actors’ support of him) or pulling the plug. But they were impressed with the footage — “as if David Lean were directing a Western,” the execs said of what they’d seen, in justification — and they didn’t want a huge writedown with nothing to show for it, so the film was completed.

In the next few years, there were four cuts of the film, of varying lengths. Three months after wrapping, Cimino had a print that ran 325 minutes (i.e., five hours, 25 minutes), with Cimino announcing that it needed to lose 15 minutes. However, it was trimmed to 219 minutes by the time it premiered in New York on Nov. 19, 1980. The audience and critical reaction were negative, so UA pulled the film and re-released it in April 1981 at 149 minutes. It earned less than $4 million. United Artists was sold to Kirk Kerkorian and MGM; at a Cannes screening of “Heaven’s Gate,” Cimino denied that his film was responsible. UA honcho Norbert Auerbach said tactfully that if the film didn’t force previous owner Transamerica to exit show business, “Heaven’s Gate” certainly didn’t discourage that move. The company never regained its stature.

In 1985 Bach, who was senior VP and head of worldwide production for UA at the time, wrote “Final Cut,” a withering account of the film. Bach cited studio execs, including himself, for culpability, and questioned how artists are expected to learn “discipline and responsibility” in an age of conglomerates. He notes that it was a time of turbulence in the film biz, and within three years of “Heaven’s Gate,” every major company changed management. But Bach clearly portrays Cimino as the villain, for giving priority to his artistic vision over budget considerations, and for his refusal to deal with studio executives.

Over the years, the film has been re-evaluated several times, with either positive or rapturous reception. A new director’s cut, running 216 minutes, debuted in fall 2012 at the Venice Film Festival.

Although he directed a few films in the decades after “Heaven’s Gate,” Cimino kept a low profile, and plastic surgery made him almost unrecognizable. He resurfaced at the Cannes Film Festival for a screening of his 1996 film “Sunchaser.” He appeared at Cannes again in 2007 for his final film venture, a three-minute contribution to the multi-director anthology “Chacun son gout.” He obliquely addressed the rumor that he was transitioning into a woman, saying there were many false rumors about him, part of a “personal assassination”; he said if a detractor wants to prevent a person from working, the next best thing is to “destroy them personally.”

Cimino circled many projects that never came to fruition, including a life of Dostoevsky developed with Raymond Carver; adaptations of “Crime and Punishment,” Truman Capote’s “Handcarved Coffins,” Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” and Andre Malraux’s “Man’s Fate”; and bios of Janis Joplin, Legs Diamond and Mafia boss Frank Costello. He also circled many projects eventually directed by others, including “The Bounty,” “Footloose,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village” and “Born on the Fourth of July.”

He wrote a 2001 novel, “Big Jane” and two years later collaborated with Francesca Pollock on the book “Conversations en miroir.”

CIMINO, Michael

Born: 2/3/1939, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 7/2/2016, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Michael Cimino’s western – director, writer:

Heaven’s Gate – 1980 [director, writer]

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RIP Euan Lloyd

July 4, 2016, 9:01 am

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RIP Euan Lloyd

BFI

By James Blackford

July 4, 2016

Euan Lloyd, a prominent independent producer of popular British action films, has died, aged 92.

Lloyd stood alone within the depressed British film industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s as a producer with the self-belief, charisma and bluff to mount large-scale independent action-adventure films, such as The Wild Geese (1978) and Who Dares Wins (1982). A brazen, against-the-odds ambition, an old-fashioned world view, ageing stars and a journeyman crew of familiar names who returned with each production: these are the characteristics of a ‘Euan Lloyd Production’. His films sometimes made a loss but, as a recognized stalwart of the industry, he always managed to get the next project off the ground, even re-mortgaging his house for funding in one instance.

Born in Rugby in 1923, he worked during the war as a publicist for J. Arthur Rank’s Eagle-Lion Films, then, in 1951, for the newly-established Variety Club. Through his friend Alan Ladd, he got a job as a production assistant at Cubby Broccoli and Irving Allen’s Warwick Films, working on such productions as The Cockleshell Heroes (1955) and Zarak (1956) and writing, directing and producing several travelogue films.

After a short stint as production assistant to Carl Foreman, he received an offer from Richard Widmark to co-produce the espionage story The Secret Ways (1961). This in turn led to associate producer roles on two Irving Allen productions: Genghis Khan (1965) and Murderers’ Row (1966).

Another former Warwick man, director Terence Young, invited Lloyd to co-produce Danger Grows Wild (1966), an anti-drugs film based on a story by Ian Fleming and funded by the United Nations. Lloyd managed to assemble a striking cast, including Rita Hayworth, Eli Wallach, Yul Brynner, Omar Sharif, Trevor Howard, Anthony Quayle and Jack Hawkins, all of whom agreed to a 12-week shooting schedule for $1 apiece.

Lloyd then made his way to Hollywood, where he acquired the rights to Louis L’Amour’s popular Western novel ‘Shalako’, a tale of Europeans on a Wild West hunting safari who stray into an Apache reservation. Lloyd boldly cast Sean Connery in the lead, alongside Brigitte Bardot, Stephen Boyd, Woody Strode and Honor Blackman, with veteran Edward Dmytryk directing. Shalako (1968) was funded by no less than 36 independent distributors from territories around the world, with Connery, in his first post-Bond role, securing his first $1 million salary. Lloyd followed Shalako with two further L’Amour adaptations: the MGM-financed comedy western Catlow (1971) starring Richard Crenna, Leonard Nimoy and Yul Brynner; and the independent Italian/Spanish/British co-production The Man Called Noon (1973), again starring Crenna, this time alongside Farley Granger and Stephen Boyd.

Lloyd’s next production, Paper Tiger (1975), was an unusual family film with thriller elements set in the Far East and starring David Niven, Toshiro Mifune and Hardy Krüger. But it was the much-loved ‘Boy’s Own’ adventure The Wild Geese that would give him his biggest success.

Adapted by Reginald Rose from an unpublished war adventure about mercenaries in Africa, The Wild Geese harked back to the classic Alistair MacLean adaptations The Guns of Navarone (1967) and Where Eagles Dare (1968). The cast included Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Roger Moore and Hardy Kruger. Burton’s lead character was reputedly based upon real-life Irish mercenary Col. Mike Hoare, a soldier-for-hire who became renowned during the Congo Crisis of 1965-66. Hoare served as military adviser on the film. On John Ford’s recommendation, Western veteran Andrew V. McLaglen was hired to direct. Despite controversially being filmed in apartheid South Africa (which led to the international premiere being picketed), and with only a limited theatrical release in America (due to the collapse of distributor Allied Artists), The Wild Geese was a huge worldwide hit, becoming the 14th highest grossing film of 1978.

He followed this with the similarly-styled adventure The Sea Wolves (1980) which tells the true story of the Calcutta Light Horse, a reserve British Indian Army regiment who came out of retirement during WWII to perform one last daring mission. The film saw Lloyd team David Niven and Gregory Peck with much of the cast and crew of The Wild Geese.

Lloyd’s next production, the controversial action film Who Dares Wins starring Lewis Collins (then known for ITV’s The Professionals, 1978-83), was made in the wake of the Iranian embassy siege of 1980. Within an hour of watching events unfold live on TV, Lloyd had registered several potential names for a film about the SAS. Although the sixth-highest grossing film at the UK box office of 1982, the film’s depiction of a militant anti-nuclear terrorist group drew condemnation from critics and anti-nuclear activists, and reinforced Lloyd’s reputation as a right-winger. However defense came from an unlikely quarter; within days of the film’s release Lloyd received a personal call from none other than Stanley Kubrick, who praised the film, adding that casting Judy Davis was nothing short of inspirational.

The Wild Geese II (1985), about a fictional attempt to break Rudolf Hess out of Spandau Prison, would prove to be the producer’s last film; the production was thrown into chaos when star Richard Burton died shortly before shooting began. Widely regarded as inferior to the first film, The Wild Geese II suffered at the box office and, in light of the ever more depressed state of the UK film industry, Lloyd subsequently retired.

His work was appraised in the short documentary The Last of the Gentlemen Producers (2004). Euan Lloyd passed away on 3 July 2016. Roger Moore was among the first to pay tribute to Lloyd in a statement which remembered “a true gentleman”.

LLOYD, Euan

Born: 12/6/1923, Rugby, England, U.K.

Died: 6/2/2016, England, U.K.

Euan Lloyd’s westerns – producer:

Shalako – 1968

Catlow – 1971

The Man Called Noon - 1973

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RIP Teddy Rooney

July 4, 2016, 9:04 am

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RIP Teddy Rooney

Teddy Rooney, a Former Child Actor and a Son of Mickey Rooney, Dies at 66

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

7/4/2016

He appeared with his father and mother, Martha Vickers, on the screen before becoming a musician.

Teddy Rooney, an actor, musician and a son of the late Mickey Rooney, has died. He was 66.

Rooney died Saturday in a convalescent home in Southern California after a long illness, his sister, Kelly, told The Hollywood Reporter.

His mother was model and actress Martha Vickers (The Big Sleep), the third of Mickey Rooney's eight wives. They were married from 1949-51.

Teddy Rooney appeared with his father as the son of his dad's legendary character (now a grown-up) in Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958) and on a 1960 installment of General Electric Theater, and, earlier, he acted alongside his mom on a 1957 episode of another CBS anthology series, Playhouse 90.

He also starred in such films as It Happened to Jane (1959) with Doris Day and Jack Lemmon and Seven Ways From Sundown (1960) with Audie Murphy and on TV shows including Shirley Temple's Storybook, Wagon Train, The Rifleman, Lassie and McHale's Navy.

Rooney left acting in the early 1960s to focus on a career as a musician. He played bass and sang with his brothers Mickey Jr. and Tim in the Columbia Records act The Rooney Brothers, and he was a member of the garage band The Yellow Payges.

He also served in the Vietnam War.

Survivors also include his wife Carol and children Shannon and Dominique

ROONEY, Teddy (Theodore Michael Rooney)

Born: 4/12/1950, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Died: 7/3/2016, Southern California, U.S.A.

Teddy Rooney’s westerns – actor:

Palyhouse 90: The Galvanized Yankee - 1957

Seven Ways from Sundown – 1960 (Jody)

The Rebel – 1960 (Jimmy McCune)

Wagon Train – 1960 (Luther Henry)

The Rifleman (TV) – 1961 (Woody Fogarty)

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RIP Mauricio Walerstein

July 4, 2016, 9:16 am

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RIP Mauricio Walerstein

El Universal

By: Simon Bulgaris

July 4, 2016

Filmmaker Mauricio Walerstein has died

The filmmaker was born in Mexico, but his career was developed in Venezuela, died Sunday

Although Mexican by blood in his veins run (born in Mexico City, on March 29, 1945), he was a Venezuelan Mauricio Walerstein passionate through film, especially that made in this country explored the most intimate aspect of the human impulses screened by political commitment and sexual desire.

Thus, any historicist purpose regarding national cinematography is taken to include in many cases your name, as well as being unyielding when dealing with the issues that obsessed him, Walerstein also starred in a phenomenon that divided in two the future Venezuelan cinema: the so-called "boom" of the seventies and eighties, the time when local production returned viewers the clearest picture of the national situation.

Mauricio Walerstein died Sunday in Mexico due to cancer, whose inexorable advance lived and suffered alongside his wife, Venezuelan actress Marisela Berti. He was 71 years, but beyond that precise data, it is impossible not to recall the courage to assuming his office, his steady hand to tell stories, his interest in Venezuelan literature and, especially, delivering absolute who managed the actors who worked under his guidance.

The excitement that produced the possibility, looking out by the director of photography Abigail Rojas, adapted for the big screen the novel by Miguel Otero Silva, When I mourn not cry, brought to these lands knowing that the story of the three Victorinos those who had to live the overthrow of Romulo Gallegos and the establishment of the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez, could not overcome the Mexican censorship then.

And all immigrants in Venezuela he was received in 1971 with open arms. And here he realized his dream: When I mourn not cry became a landmark of national cinema to rank among the top ten films seen in 1973. In addition to linking this success to the fact that the film is based on a novel well known for Venezuelan readers, the cultural phenomenon that represented the work of Walerstein was well explained by the critic Alfonso Molina in his article "national film 1973-1993: very personal memory of the Venezuelan film" (1997): "(...) the film Walerstein he established a relationship of identity between the viewer and what was happening on the screen. One way of talking, acting and, ultimately, a way of being Venezuelan. First national eyes saw a story, a dramatic process and characters that belonged to them. "

If something leaves a legacy Mauricio Walerstein is its artistic coherence. He never sold to power. He never made movies to please. He never betrayed his vision. And he never cared that the critics encumbrara or crushed. When the latter happened, his reaction was nothing but indifference that made him look from the outside as a creator beyond good and evil.

Basten their words to understand what his philosophy as a filmmaker: "I'm not interested me the big issues. Gandhi never perform or Miranda. I am a man of my time and the Western world that is alive and that I care. Nor do I deal with the propagandistic film and never would. I do not think that revolutions have nothing to do with cinema, nor the revolutionaries with the filmmakers. I am an anarchist and I think that's the ideal position of the creator. I prefer the films of John Ford to any of Eisenstein, although it sounds pedantic ".

Titles like Chronicle of a Subversive Latin American (1975), the company Forgives a Moment of Madness (1978), Eva, Julia, Perla (1978), The maximum happiness (1983), male and female (1985), Woman to Woman ( 1986), the passionate Mobile (1994) and Games under the moon (2000) report a filmmaker who, despite public acceptance that took his films, had its ups and downs, its good and not so good movies. Of course, he never disowned perceived worse.

In any case, his creative exploration always aimed at the same goal: to unravel the instincts of his characters, starting with the guerrillas indoctrinated from Cuba in the nascent years of the rise of democracy in Venezuela; through the love triangle interpreted in male and female, Orlando Urdaneta, Elba Escobar and Irene Arcila, and arriving at the drama of many Venezuelan workers exploited to the sale, as he that desperate man who played Simon Diaz in the company occurs forgives a moment of madness, Walerstein made adaptation of the eponymous play by Rodolfo Santana.

It seems commonplace, and perhaps be said that beyond its physical presence and as in the case of all the artists who have achieved some resonance within a culture, from now on will be your movies that speak for Mauricio Walerstein. Personally, there are a lot of sequences recorded in memory; indelible: that of Pedro Laya as Victorino Perdomo wandering the streets of Caracas; the conversation in a restaurant starring Rafael Briceño and Miguel Angel Landa, as two subversives who planned the kidnapping of an official from the US Embassy; the Virginia Urdaneta, Marcelo Romo and Luis Colmenares mending a quilt; the worker the Orlando Nunez (Simon Diaz) beside himself; Alicia's (Irene Arcila) eroticized by a drumbeat ... anyway.

WALERSTEIN, Mauricio

Born: 3/29/1945, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 7/3/2016, Mexico

Mauricio Walerstein’s western – producer:

Eye for an Eye - 1971

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RIP Noel Neill

July 4, 2016, 3:05 pm

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RIP Noel Neill

Metropolis Planet

By Michele Longworth

July 4, 2016

Actress Noell Neill may be gone, but she will certainly not be forgotten, especially not in Metropolis, where she was known as the First Lady of Metropolis.

Neill died on July 3, at her home in Tucson, Arizona, after a long illness, according to her long-time friend and manager, Larry Thomas Ward, who said she maintained that bright, perky and engaging personality up until her death.

A funeral service will be private, with a public memorial held later this year.

Neill was born in Minneapolis Minnesota, in 1920, and ironically had plans to become a journalist, like her father, who was editor of a Minneapolis newspaper.

But, Neill was hired by Bing Crosby to sing at the Turf Club at a racetrack in Del Mar, Calif. and afterward signed a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1941, obviously taking a different career path.

When asked if she was glad that her career went in a different direction, she responded with “Oh sure, it’s been fun.”

While Neill is best known for playing the hard-nosed reporter Lois Lane, her acting career began in the 1940s playing a teenager in the movie Mad Youth.

But her first professional performance before a paying audience was in the 1930 vaudeville production of Kid Nite Follies, which was billed as a miniature musical comedy.

According to information from International Movie Data Base, Neill has been in 75 movies and television shows, including such movies as The Lone Ranger – Letter of the Law, The Cisco Kid, An American Girl in Paris, Racket Squad and The Greatest Show on Earth.

Before Superman, Neill was most known for her work in westerns, but also worked in The Teenagers series at Monogram, several Paramount shorts and the last Charlie Chan feature.

Neill first assumed the role of Metropolis Daily Planet Reporter Lois Lane in the 1948 movie Superman, which starred Kirk Alyn in the title role.

Later in 1953, Neill replaced actress Phyliss Coates in the series The Adventures of Superman, when Coates left the show.

From 1953 to 1958 Neill appeared in 78 episodes of the show, which starred actor George Reeves as the Man of Steel.

Neill was in her late 20s when playing Lois Lane and has described Reeves as a “southern gentleman.”

In question and answer session, Neill has said that her favorite episode was Superman’s Wife, from 1958, which involved a dream sequence in which Lois dreamt about being Superman’s wife.

According to Neill, that was her favorite because she had the most screen time in that particular episode.

Neill made her first appearance at the celebration with actor Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen in the old Superman television show. She continued to be a popular celebrity with the crowds who converge in Metropolis for the annual event.

In 2003 a special Lunch with Lois was held which allowed celebration goers to dine with Neill, while she signed copies of her biography Truth, Justice & The American Way, by long-time friend, Larry Thomas Ward.

That same year, Neill was given a key to the city and was officially dubbed the First Lady of Metropolis.

Neill paid a visit to Metropolis in November 2006, when Papa Johns launched its Superman pan pizza, with Neill taking the inaugural first bite of pizza at the promotional event held at the Superman Statue.

Neill’s affiliation with Superman continued on, as she had a small cameo role in the 2006 blockbuster Superman Returns.

Neill said that during the filming of the movie in Australia, it took two weeks to complete her short scene.

Her scene was with Lex Luthor, played by actor Kevin Spacey, but Neill pointed out that during the whole scene she talked to herself and never met Spacey during the filming.

Neill said in the scene, following her character’s death, one of the two dogs lying on the bed with her began licking her hand.

According to Neill the director was calling to keep rolling while she lay there trying not to laugh from the licking.

Although Neill did not get to meet Spacey, she did get to meet Brandon Routh, who portrayed Superman and Clark Kent in the movie.

“He’s a very nice boy,” she said, pointing out that he was a very hard worker and noting, “He did a very good job.”

Neill was disappointed when she first found out about the intent for Lois Lane to have a child out of wedlock in Superman Returns and thought, “You can’t do that to Lois Lane.”

In 2005 the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce announced the group would like to erect a statue of Neill in character as Lois Lane.

In one of her last official visits to Metropolis, Neill was in town in 2010, for the unveiling of the Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue.

NEILL, Noel (Noel Darleen Neill)

Born: 11/25/1920, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Died: 7/3/2016, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.

Noel Neill’s westerns – actress:

Prairie Chickens – 1943 (girl on bus)

Son of a Badman – 1945 (Vicki Burley_

Over the Santa Fe Trail – 1947 (Taffy Neill)

Adventures of Frank and Jesse James – 1948 (Judy Powell)

The James Brothers of Missourti – 1949 (Peg Royer)

The Cactus Cut-Up – 1949 (Errol’s daughter)

Gun Runner – 1949 (Jessica Harris)

The Cisco Kid (TV) – 1950 (Rita Shannon)

Abilene Trail – 1951 (Mary Dawson)

Whistling Hills – 1951 (Beth Fairchild)

The Lone Ranger (TV) – 1951 (Molly Niles)

Montana Incident – 1952 (Frances Martin)

The Lawless Rider – 1954 (Nancy James)

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RIP Vittorio Salerno

July 6, 2016, 9:49 am

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Italian director, screenwriter and film producer Vittorio Salerno died July 5^th in Morlupo, Italy, a suburb of Rome. He was 79. The youngest of four brothers, all artists: Titta, painter and art critic, Enrico Maria, actor and director, Ferdinand, musician and songwriter. He studied classical guitar with teachers Miguel Ablóniz and Andrés Segovia to ' Chigiana Academy of Siena. He wrote screenplays for four Euro-westerns: Blood at Sundown (1966), Dead Men Don’t Count, $20,000 for Seven (both 1968) and Fast Hand is Still My Name (1973). As a writer he has published several books, among them Enrico Maria Salerno, my brother dedicated to the famous actor brother, published in 2002 by Gremese. In more recent years he has produced and directed dozens of historical cultural programs for RAI.

SALERNO, Vittorio(Vittorio Emanuele Salerno)

Born: 2/18/1937, Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Died: 7/5/2016, Morlupo, Lazio, Italy

Vittorio Salerno’s westerns - screenwriter:

Blood at Sundown - 1966

Dead Men Don’t Count - 1968

$20,000 for Seven – 1968

Fast Hand is Still My Name - 1973

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RIP Alan Stewart

July 8, 2016, 7:15 am

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RIP Alan Stewart

Los Angeles Times

July 8, 2016

December 11, 1951 - July 5, 2016 Alan, 64, passed away at his home in Sherman Oaks, CA on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. He was born December 11, 1951 to Mr. and Mrs. Johnny E. Stewart in Sinton, TX. He and his family moved to Waco in 1958, where they are today. After graduating from Waco High in 1970, he joined the Army National Guard. He received a film degree from Columbia College Hollywood in 1982. He taught film at Baylor University in Waco and Florida State University in Sarasota before moving to Los Angeles to work for Avid Technology. He retired from Disney Studios in 2015. He was a pioneer in filmmaking and advertising production while in Waco, and most recently served as the Assistant Editor on Disney's PLANES.

He was preceded in death by his father, Johnny, and sister, Carol. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Johnny E. Stewart, his brother Gerald and family, his sister Susan and family, his daughter Rebecca and family, his sons Harrison and Taylor, his daughter Shauna, and his daughter Lindsey and family. He had two grandchildren, four nephews, two nieces, and numerous friends.

STEWART, Alan

Born: 12/11/1951, Sinton, Texas, U.S.A.

Died: 7/5/2016, Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.A.

Alan Stewart’s western – producer, director, cameraman:

Ghost Riders - 1987

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RIP Emma Cohen

July 11, 2016, 4:40 pm

≫ Next: RIP Norman Abbott

≪ Previous: RIP Alan Stewart

El Pais

July 12, 2016

Actress Emma Cohen dies at 69

The theater director died from cancer

Emmanuela Beltrán Rahola actress, known as Emma Cohen (Barcelona, 1946), died Monday at age 69 of cancer. The also theater director and screenwriter, the widow of Fernando Fernan Gomez, died at her home in the residential area of Ciudad Santo Domingo (Madrid), home she had shared with the actor and where she was still living.

Emma Cohen studied law in Barcelona when she became interested in the theater. She connected there with a group inoculated with similar concerns. "There were Mario Gas, Carles Velat, Carlos Trias, Gustavo Hernandez, Cristina Fernández Cubas ... I call Cursed With them I realized that apart from being a lawyer - which was like a predestination, because they were my parents wishes and one of my sisters was studying to be - could aspire to other things. I discovered Faulkner and Artaud, I who until then had read Corsaire and Alice in Wonderland, and little else. We did theater ", she recounted in an interview with El Pais in 1983.

"Making radio theater is open hedgehogs"

The actress also immersed herself in literature. At 36 she wrote her first novel, Toda la casa era una ventana. Her films include films like “Mambrú se fue a la Guerra” and “El viaje a ninguna parte”. As reported by EFE her friend, businessman and theatrical producer Cimarro Jesus, Cohen did not want a public funeral; so her burial and funeral will be held "in the strictest privacy".

COHEN, Emma (Emmanuela Beltrán Rahola)

Born: 11/21/1946, Barcelona, Barcelona, Cataluna, Spain

Died: 7/11/2016, Ciudad Santo Domingo, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Emma Cohen’s westerns – actress:

The Legend of Frenchie King – 1971 (Virginie)

Cut-Throats Nine – 1972 (Sarah Brown)

Spaghetti Western 1975 (Mary Ann Pulitzer)

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RIP Norman Abbott

July 12, 2016, 11:07 am

≫ Next: RIP Darrell Howe

≪ Previous: RIP Emma Cohen

Norman Abbott, Veteran Sitcom Director, Dies at 93

Variety

By Pat Saperstein

July 12, 2016

Norman Abbott, the nephew of comedian Bud Abbott who directed numerous 1960s and ’70s sitcoms such as “Get Smart” and “The Brady Bunch,” died July 9 in Valencia, Calif. at the age of 93.

Born in New York, Norman Abbott was raised by his mother and his uncle, Bud Abbott, the straight man of the legendary comedy team of Abbott and Costello, as well as his aunt Florence Abbott and uncle Harry Abbott of Barnum & Bailey.

Norman Abbott served in World War II in the original Navy Seals unit, and was encouraged by his uncle to join the family business. He started his five decade career in show business as a radio announcer on “The Colgate Family Hour” and as stage manager on the “I Love Lucy Show.”

He went on to direct some of television’s most loved sitcoms, including “The Jack Benny Show,” for which he won an Emmy Award in 1965. He directed numerous episodes of “Leave It To Beaver,” “Father Knows Best,” “Get Smart,” “Bachelor Father,” “McHale’s Navy,” “Adam 12,” “The Munsters,” “Sanford & Sons,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Love American Style,” “Stars of Jazz” and “The Bob Hope Show.”

In later years, Abbott directed episodes of “Welcome Back Kotter” and “Alice.” He made his movie directing debut in 1966 with the quirky comedy “The Last of the Secret Agents” starring Marty Allen and Steve Rossi.

He also occasionally worked as an actor and comedian, with roles in the Abbott and Costello comedies “Who Done It?” and “Rio Rita.”

He is survived by his wife Dominique; children Christine, William, Jennifer and Norman Jr.; his sister, veteran script supervisor Betty Abbott Griffin; three step-sons and four grandchildren.

ABBOTT, Norman

Born: 7/11/1922, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 7/9/2016, Valencia, California, U.S.A.

Norman Abbott’s western – dialogue director:

The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap - 1947

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RIP Darrell Howe

July 13, 2016, 6:25 am

≫ Next: RIP Lloyd Berry

≪ Previous: RIP Norman Abbott

Los Angeles Times

July 12, 2016

August 10, 1933 - June 19, 2016 Darrell Howe, who embraced life, work, family and friends with passion, enthusiasm, humor and grace, passed away on Father's Day. He is survived by his wife Dana; children Tony, Danny, Lisa and Michele; 7 grand and 7 great-grandchildren. Darrell grew up in Palm Springs, CA, then spent 4 years in the U.S Air Force before moving to Los Angeles area where he worked as an actor, singer, producer and restaurateur.

Creative and versatile, innovative and provocative, he soon became a successful entrepreneur. His consulting firm Hamilton-Howe (later Darrell Howe & Associates) included clients with annual budgets exceeding $300 million dollars. His first love was designing houses. He then discovered his talent for designing churches whose congregations would reach the "unchurched". His flagship design with beautiful contemporary worship centers is Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, TN. To watch his ideas take shape were comparable to watching an artist complete a painting. Darrell frequently said, "I've had the best life anyone could ever imagine."

HOWE, Darrell

Born: 8/10/1933, Palm Springs, California, U.S.A.

Died: 6/19/2016, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Darrell Howe’s westerns – actor:

Mackenzie's Raiders (TV) - 1959 (Private Lewis)

The Virginiain (TV) - 1962 (ranch hand)

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